Rotary turbine-type hydraulic coupling



p 1952 R. H. BROWN I 2,611,247

ROTARY TURBINE-TYPE HYDRAULIC COUPLING Filed Jan. 9, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR R.HBrown ATTORNEY p 1952 R. H. BROWN 2,611,247

ROTARY TURBINE-TYPE HYDRAULIC COUPLING 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 9, 1950 Se t. 23, 1952 R H. BROWN 2,611,247

ROTARY TURBINE-TYPE HYDRAULIC COUPLING Filed Jan. 9, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 H6 7L7. E-

Patented Sept. 23, 1952 R OTARY TURBINE-TYPE HYDRAULIC COUPLING Robert H. Brown, Pulaski, Tenn. Application January 9, 1950, Serial No. 137,629

3 Claims.

This invention relates to rotary turbine-type hydraulic couplings comprising a driving member and a driven member and the primary object of the invention is to provide a hydraulic coupling,

of the character indicated above} the driven member of which is adapted to be connected with the driving member without the use of any outi side gears, clutches or the like while the driving member is running and regardless of the speed at which it is running.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hydraulic coupling of the character indicated 1 above in which the driven member of which is adapted to stop without stopping the driving member or reducing the running speed of said member.

A further object of the invention is to proll vide a hydraulic coupling of the character indicated above in which the ratio of speed trans- 'mission between the driving and the driven memher is regulated by adjusting the'clearance disdriven members can be arranged in direct engagement with each other.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of an improved hydraulic coupling whereby certain advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that the invention may be better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in section taken on a vertica center plane of a hydraulic coupling in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in section taken on the line 2--2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in section taken on the line 3-3 in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a detail view in elevation of the adjusting meansof a pair of adjustable liquid impelling fins used in connection with the hydraulic coupling in accordance with the invention;

Figure 5 is a view in section taken on the line 55 in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a view in section taken on the line 66 in Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a side view in elevation of one of the adjustable liquid impelling fins; and

In the bottom H) a central opening |2 ispro-' vided which is surrounded by an annular ball race l3 formed or fastened on the inside surface of the bottom l0.

The hydraulic coupling as herein embodied comprises a driven member |4 having a lower cylindrical portion l5. Centrally of the outside surface of the bottom 16 of the lower portion |5 of the driven member a hollow boss I] is disposed on the peripheral surface of which a second ball race l8 corresponding to the first ball race I3 is formed. The portion |9 of the hollow boss l'l, which extends beyond the ball race l8, has a reduced outside diameter and extends through the opening |2 in the housing bottom' ID. A plurality of balls 20 are disposed in the cooperating balljraces |3 and Hi so that the driven member |4 rests thereon.

The upper peripheral wall 2| of the upper portion of the driven member |4 extends upwardly and outwardly from the lower portion of said member and an annular flange 22 is formed on the upper lip of the peripheral wall 2|.

Attention is called to the fact that the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the lower portion N5 of the driven member I4 is smoothly finished.

The top surface of peripheral wall 2| is finished so that a shoulder 23 is formed located at a lower level than the top surface of the member l4. From this shoulder a plurality-of drain passages 24 extend downwardly through the peripheral wall portions 2| and I5. These passages 24 taper slightly in downward direction and communicate at their lower ends with the interior of the cylindrical portion |5 of the driven member I4 by means of openings 25 disposed adjacent to the bottom |6 of the driven member I4.

Centrally of the. upper surface of a cover 26 an upwardly extending ball race 21 is provided and centrally of said ball race a hole 28 is arranged in the cover 26 having a counterbore 29 extending upwardly from the lower surface of the cover 26. In the hole 28 a bearing 30 is located.

An annular channel 3| is formed in the underside of the cover 26 and the outer wall 32 of said channel does not extend over the entire thickness of the cover 26. An annular flange 33 is formed on the outer wall 32 of the channel 3| and is adapted to rest on the flange 22 to which it is secured by a plurality of bolts 34 or the like. The channel 3| is disposed so that the upper ends of the passages 24 coincide with said channel, when the cover 26 is attached to the driven member l4.

Adjacent to the inside wall of the annular channel 3| a second annular channel35 is cut into the underside of the cover 26 so that an annular wall 36 is formed which coincides with A third annular channel 31 is cutinto the valve stem 40 located in the third annular chan-- nel 37. The outer end of each spring 42 abuts the outer wall of the channel 31 while the inner end of each spring 42 engages a stop pin 43 extending diametrically through each valve rod 40 inside the channel 3'! urging the valve head 4| onto the valve seat 39. The inner end portion f each valve rod 40 extends into the counterbore. 29 and is rounded off.

Theinside surface of the hollow. boss IT is finished and the. end portion of a driveshaft extends rotatably' through said boss. A ball bearing 45Iisformed on. said drive shaft portion and anaxial: hole 46 of preferably square cross sec- :tion: extends centrally partway into said axial hole 4'6.

The upperend of the, housing. His closed by lrneans of atop plate 41 resting on the'peripheral wall H of said housing. An' opening 48 is provided centrally in said top; plate 41 and coaxially withsaid'. opening a, ball race 49..is formed on or secured to the underside of the top plate 4'! and is adapted'to cooperaitdwith the ball race 21. A plurality of balls 50' are; arranged. between the two ball races.

A hollow drive shaft 5|1 is. closed at one of its end and .a, rod 52' fitting slidably into the axial hole'46 in the drive shaft end portion 44. extends ,axiallyand centrally through the closed end of the. hollow drive shaft 51.. Saidi hollow shaft extends rotatably through the. bearing36 and is supported thereby. Itex'tends" also through the 1 hole. 48.. Beyond the top. plate, 41.

A plurality of hearings, 53-are inserted radially intothe wall of the hollow. shaft 5| at an equal distance from theclosed-end ofthe'shaft so that the bearings- 53, are disposed inside. the. cylindri- ..ca l lower portion l5 of the. driven member, I4

when the driving shaft 5| isarranged inworking position I I In. each bearing. 53a shaft 54.is..dis'pio'sed' rotatably and on the outerend portion of each shaft 541a platelike fin, 55- having an 'arcuate 4 outer edgeissecuredso that the shaft-54lextends radiallyfrom the'center of the inner edgeof each fin 55.

On the inner end portion of each shaft 54 a ourved lever. arm 56 (see Figure 6) isformed extending. laterally of the shaft54-so that all lever arms 56sare located inside the hollow. shaft 5| andextend-therein in. the. same direction. On

the end'of each. lever arm. 56 an upwardly. ex-

tending finger 5 |.is formed. Ahelical spring 58 is disposed; inside the hollow shaft 5'| and abuts witlrpne ofits endsthe closure wallofsaid shaft and bears at itsother. end against. the lever. arms 56 so that the pressure of the spring 58 holds the-lever arms 56* andthefins 55; in. aposition parallel to the bottoml6 of the driven member I4. A hollow plunger 53 is disposed slidably insiide the hollowshaft 5|- and rests loosely. onthe fingers 51. A plunger rod 60-is insertedandsecured in the; plunger 59. The plunger rod-,6!)

. extends upwardly through and'beyond ,therhollow ,8'9.is pivotally connected. with the. other end pm- 4 shaft 5|. A pulley 6| provided on each of its ends with a flange 62 is firmly mounted on the plunger rod 60 outside of the hollowshaft 5|. A lever 63 having a bifurcated free end portion 64 engages the pulley 6| between the flanges 62 with said bifurcated end portion 64.

I upright bracket 65 is mounted on top of the top plate 41 and a stub shaft 66 is rotatably supported by said bracket. The end portion of the lever arm 63 remote from the bifurcated end portion 64 thereof is rigidly secured to the stub shaft 66 and another lever 61 is also rigidly secured with one of its end portions to the stub shaft 56.. A pivot pin 68 extends through the other endportion of said lever 61' and an adjusting' rod 69 is pivotally connected at one of its ends withthe pivot pin 68.

A- plurality of pins 10 aresecured'to and extend radially from a ring member'l securely mounted on the plunger rod 60" approximately at a level even with the lower surface ofthe cover 26 when the plunger 59" rests loosely onthe fingers 51.

A conical sleeve 12' is loosely'mounted on the hollow shaft 5| and rests loosely on the. pins 10 which extend through axial openings I31 provided in the wall of the hollow shaft 5|.

The driving member 74 has a' peripheral wall 15' of a substantially inverted conical shape, a

flat top 16 and centrally located cylindricalinner Wall Tl connecting the peripheral wall 75 with the flat top '16 and open at both ends. The inside diameterof the inner wall 11 is such that it'fits snugly onto the hollow shaft 5| to which it is securedby means of a key 18 or in any other suitablemanner so that the driving member 14 is disposed inside'the' driven member I4 and unclerneath the cover 25.

On the outside surface of the driving member T4 a plurality of radially extending vanes or ribs T9 are provided and on the inside surface of the peripheral wall portion 2 I of the driven member I14 a pluralityof.radially'extending vanes or ribs 6 0; are provided.

The hollow shaft 5| and the driving member 14' mounted thereon are adapted to be rotated by means of 'a source of power, for instance, a motor M on the shaft 8| of which a pulley 82 is rigidly mounted. Adjacent to the upper end of the hollow shaft. 5| a pulley 83 is mounted and a belt 84 is trained over the pulleys 82 and 83.

An annular collar 85 having a U-shaped cross section is firmly mounted onthe hollow shaft 5| below the pulley 83. A. bifurcated lever arm 86 engages said collar 85 with it's bifurcationand is rigidly mountedwithits other. end. portion on a stub shaft 81' rotatably supported by'the bracket 65'. Another lever arm, 88-is rigidly secured with one of itsend portions to the stub shaft. 8! so that: it. extends downwardly at anapproximately right;v angle tothe lever 86 and an adjusting rod tion ofthe lever 88 by means of a pivot pin 96. When the abovedescribed hydraulic coupling is to be used, the lower portion of the driven .member |4.having the smoothstraight upright peripheral wall 15 is filled with liquid,, for instanceoilup'to the levelindicated by line 9| in Figure l. The fins55 are arrangedparallel to the bottom. l6rso that-they will slide through the oil, when the motor M is energized and. the

hollow. haft 5|, on which. the fins 55 are mounted, is rotatedin-the bearing 30; Thedrive shaft end .portion- 44 is. rotated also through the rod; 52. on thelower end of thehollow shaft 5|. The driving member; 14 is also rotated since tween the vanes when the speed of the it is firmly mounted on the hollow shaft 5| and order to transfer this rotary motion to the vanes 80 on-the driven member. To drive the oil into this space the adjusting rod 69 is manipulated-to swing the bifurcated end portion 64 of the lever arm 63 downwardly whereby the plunger rod 60'and the plunger 59 are forced downwardly pushing the fingers 51 downward so that the fins 55 are arranged in inclined positions, as indicated in broken lines in Figure 4. The so arranged fins drive the oil upwardly into the space between the vanes I9 and 80 and the rotary motion of the former is imparted to the oil, which is forced higher up by the-centrifugal force created by the rotary motion of the driving member I4. The oil in turn creates torque in the driven member I4 so that this member is rotated in the ball bearings 20 and 50. The ratio of slippage between the driving member I4 and the driven member I4 determines thespeed ratio of the driven member I4 to driving member I4 and the slippage ratio is adjusted by adjusting the amount of clearance between the vanes 19 and the vanes 80. This is accomplished by manipulating the adjusting rod- 89 to swingthe bifurcated end portion of the lever 86 upwardly to increase the clearance between the vanes when the speed of the driven member I4 is to be reduced, or to swing said bifurcated lever end portion-downwardly to decrease the clearance bedriven member is to be increased.

When the driven member I4 is to be stopped 'without'stopping the driving member I4 ordecreasing the speed of'said member the adjusting rod 69-is manipulated to swing the bifurcated end portion 64 of the lever 63 upwardly, whereby the'plunger rod 60 is pulled upwardly. The fingers 57 are disengaged from the downward pressure of the plunger 59 and the fins 55 are arranged in positions parallel to the bottom I6 by the pressure of the spring 58.

- At the same time the pins I lift the conical sleeve I2 so that said sleeve engages the inner ends of the'valve rods 40 forcing them outwardly against the pressure of the springs 42 and lifting the valve heads 4| from their seats 39.

oil returns through the passages 24 to the lower portion I5 of the driven member I4, so that the transmission of rotary motion from the driving member I4 to the driven member I4 is interrupted ,without reducing the speed of the former or stopping it. v

In Figure 8 there is shown a slightly modified form of a hydraulic coupling in accordance with the invention and the torque converter as embodied in Figure 8 comprises a driven member 9| having a bottom 92 on the underside .of which 'a centrally located boss 93 is arranged The boss 93 has an axial bore 94 and thelower end portion 95 of the boss has a smaller outside diameter. On the junction of the upper and lower portion *of the boss an upper .ball race.96-is formed onthe boss.

ball races 96 and 99 so The hydraulic coupling is located in a housin similar to the housing H described above and centrally of the bottom 91 of this housing an opening 98 is provided permitting the reduced, boss portion 95 to extend therethrough. A lower ball race 99 surrounds the opening 98 and a plurality of balls I00 are disposed in the two vcooperating that the driven member 9Irests thereon.

- "Fromthe. bottomv 92 a cylindrical inner wall IOI extends upwardly forming axcontainer I02 for a liquid such as oil or the like. An outside wall I03 extends upwardly and outwardly from the lowerxportion of the inner wall IN and a top wall I04extends from the top end portion of the inner wall IN to the outside wall I03 in a shallow upwardly convex curve Above the top wall I04 the outer wall extends slightly more steeply upwardly, as at I05 and in the upper surface of this wall portion an annular channel I06 is formed, the wall I01 of which is lower than the outer onefwhich has at its upper end portions. flange I08. A plurality of passages I09 are provided in the outer wall I03 connecting the annularchannel I06 with the interlorof the container I02. A driving member III has a central opening II 2. The lower surface of said member. I II .extends curvedly over the top wall I04 of "the driven member 9I butstops short of the inner portion [01' of the outer wall portion I05 and has'a plurality of vanes I I3 or ribs formed thereon which extend radially over said surface. The lower surface of a cover I is shaped to rest on the upper marginal surface N5 of the lower inside wall I01 of the channel I06 and to extend over the top surface of the driving member III. *The peripheral surface of the cover II4 forms a prolongation of the inner wall I0'I of the'annjular channel I06. On the upper marginal portion of the peripheral surface of'the cover' 4 an outwardly extending flange |I5a is formed' extending over and covering the annular channel I06 and resting on the flange I00 to which'it is secured by a plurality of bolts I I6 or the like.

The cover has a shallow conical shape and is providedwith a central hole III having onits lower end a deep counterbore II8. On the top surface of the cover II4a lower ball race 9 is formed coaxially with the hole II 1 and adapted below the bottom 92 of the drivenmember 9|.

A bore I23- of polygonal cross section is provided centrally of the shaft |2I and extends downwardly int o-said shaft. The upperend surface of said shaft forms a ball race I24 surrounding the bore I23 and a plurality of balls I25 rest on the .ball race-I24. A disk I26 having an outsidediameter equal to the diameter of the short shaft I2I is provided with a hole I2I of the same shape and size as the hole I23.

- A hollow driving shaft 5|, equipped with the plunger device-59 and 60, the adjustablefins 55 and rod I28 extending downwardly from the shaft 5| and fitting slidably through the hole assembled and operated. a I claim:

.121 and into: the bore I23;v extends'through the hole II! in the" cover -I I4 "and themhole-JiZzin thedriving member I? I I and the latter is. secured to the hollow shaft 5h bywmeans of; askey A or thehke. 1 Ant annular channel: I29: is: cut: into the. lower surfaceof the cover IEI4: inwardlyfrom and5coanally with the. annular J channel; I06; and another annular channel I30 is cuti'intozthe'lower surface of the cover ,LI 4- inwardly from the; chain ncl I29 and coaxialitherewith;.. 'Aplurality: of holes I31: in the partition I32 betweenvthe-annular channels I06; and I 29, c'onnectlthese two channels. with eachiother and each hole; I3 I is-countersunk. on its router-end .portion minim a valve: seat I331 A passage I34- extends coaxially with each hole I3I throughuthepar- 'iu'tion I351 between: the annular channels. IZBand I30: and. a. bore I36 of. the same: diameteras passage I34- extends-.coaxiall'y; with each of sai'dazpassages I34 into the coverportion inward lyi'of the annular channel: I30. z

A' valve-stem I31: extends through each set; of coaxial passages 1-34 and bores I36 and; is slida'bly arranged'in a guide bore. I38- extending .coaxially from the inner end of each bore I36. to the counterbore I I8. The inner end of each'yalve stem: I31 isuroun'ded and-the inner: end portion oft-each of saidLstems extends into said counterbore; Ahelical. spring- I39 surroundseach valve stem'r-inside" the" annular channel I30 and abuts the. partition" I with-sits outer end portion. The inner end portion of each spring 139: abuts a stop pin: I40 extending diametrically through each valve stem I3'I inside the channel I30 so that-awalve: head I II attached to each-valve stem; I-3-I' is forced by the-pressureof the-spring I39-onto the seat I33. v When the driving member; I-I I" is setinmoticn bystarting the motor M (not shown in Figured) which drives the hollow shaft 5I to, which-said :drlving member is secured the finsrslide through the .oil in the container I02: without disturbing it until. the fins are pivoted into slant- -.ing p'ositi0ns as described above; Then fthe oil is forced into the space between the. driving .member III and the driven member: 9I-where the vanes -I I3 on the driving member III. will .force the oil into: rotary flowing: motion, which turn-will lee-translated to the driven member.

The stopping of the driven member: 9I:.is atetained. in the same manner as described for the original; embodiment by lifting: the-v hollow shaft to. open the valves HI. 7

When the driving member is rotated while'th'e flns 55' are inthe position shown in Figure 8'; the

short shaft III and the gear I22 thereon are set constructed in accordance with myin'venti'on is particularly well adapted foruseby reason of the convenience'and facility with which it maybe I.'Ina hydraulic coupling, a hollow driven member open at its top end; a driving member within-"said driven memben said members being rotatable about a common axis,a wall of the "driven member extending substantially parallel to a" wall of the driving memben a plurality of vanes on 'each 'of said walls, 'thevanes on one of said walls being-disposed opposite to the-vanes cm the other wall; the driven: memberzhavinl its? lower: end; formed: to. provide: a concentrically disposedfiuid reservoir;:a removable. cover on, the open-top: of saidd-rivenrmember; a, hollow shaft extending rotatablyxthroughl the: cover and:the drivenrmember; the-,driving, member being. secured to'pthe hollow shaft, adjustable means attached to the hollow shaft and extending into thes'rescrvoir forurging thefluid into the space between; the driving and the driven-member, means; forzurgingythe fiuict actuating, means into positionnto allow them to slide? through the oil without disturbingiti and means for. forcing, the fluid; actuating means: into workingposition,

2.; A hydraulic coupling as set forth in claim '1, wherein the fluid actuating meansconsist of a plurality: of fins, a centrally disposed: radially extending: shaft on-each. fin, a radially disposed bearing for each fin. shaft located radially in the wall of-the hollow shaft, :a laterally extending curved-leverarm on: the; inner: end of each fln shaft,v said lever armsall. extending in th same direction, an. uprightly extending finger; on the end of each curved lever arm; a. plunger slidably mounted in the'hollow shaft, means for selectively adjusting said plungeratlower or higher level inthe hollowshaft and a spring disposed in said shaft, engaging the lever arms" and urging them to rotate the: fin shafts.

3; The hydraulic: coupling. asdefined in claim 1,'withmeans foprotating'said hollow shaft, a plurality of bearings' disposed radially in the wall of said shaft, a shaft. rotatably journalledin each bearing andcarrying a fin on its. outer. end, a curved lever arm on the inner end of each shaft, a spring: disposed in the hollow shaft. and urging said lever-arms to swing ,upwardly,an upwardly pointingfinger on the: end .of each lever arm, a plunger'resting loosely on the fingers,a plunger -rodextending upwardly through the hollow shaft-,2 a train of leversengagingthe'plunger rod anda'dapted tomove it upwardly and downwardly, a plurality of-annular channels arranged in the underside ofthe :cover concentrically with the hollow shaft, a counterbore in the'underside of a the cover coaxial with the hollow shaft, a hole: connecting the outermost annular channel with the next channel, the. hole forming a valve seat; a spring biased valve stem slidably extend ing coaxially with the hole connecting the two outer channels through the. partitions dividing thechannels from eachother and extending into the counterbore, a conicalsleeve mounted onthe hollow shaft, means. for moving saidshaft axialiv to adjust the distance between driving and the driven memberand to engage the valve stem with the sleeve, anda valve; head on the outer end: of the stem firml-yseatedby the spring pressure and unseated by the conical sleeve, thereby the driven member.

' RGBERT H; BROWN.

REFERENCES CITED The. following references are of record in the file of this patent:.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Jendresen Apr. 51949 Number 

